Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
I’m not sure why. I’ve been in Texas for a while and even I remember how Homer and Henry are. My gaze moves to Tillie who is giggling. I reach across and squeeze her hand. She looks at me and her face goes soft. She frustrates me, but moments like this keep me going. She has a lot of hang-ups about the past and I know a lot of those are laid at my feet. I’m also pretty damn sure I have Emily to thank for that.
I’ve been a blind fool.
I keep hold of her hand as Homer finishes his story—if he ever does.
“Once Henry did his job, I took out my knife, slit a quick line in the sack to get to Dangles’ family jewels and proceeded to pop them out.”
I wince trying to keep my hand from going down to my balls, covering them in silent protection.
“One worked fine, plopped out and fell on the ground like a walnut out of a tree. That’s when disaster struck.”
“I’m thinking it was way before then,” Dakota mutters.
“You can say that again,” Brenda adds.
“Ole’ Dangles didn’t like what was going on—”
“Which was understandable,” I mutter and that makes Tillie laugh harder. I squeeze her hand, relieved the tension from our earlier conversation has dissipated.
“Henry thought it would be a good idea to move his hand from one of the legs to the back to hold Dangles steadier.”
“That was a mistake,” Henry mutters. “Damn thing bit into my leg so hard, I grabbed it to yank it off, and used my right hand to hold the back of the head.”
“What you thought was the back of the head. If it had been the back of his head, he wouldn’t have latched onto your finger so hard,” Homer chastises.
“How was I supposed to know the damn thing could turn his head in a circle like that possessed chick in that movie that gave me the shits for a month.”
“Henry—”
“Well, it did. That movie scared the shit out of me for a month,” Henry says, when Brenda tried to censor him.
“What happened to poor Dangles,” Brenda—ever the cat lover—asks.
“Poor Dangles? He didn’t lose a finger,” Henry asks, obviously offended.
“No. He just lost his balls,” Tucker answers and I look up at him and he’s watching me closely. His gaze travels to mine and Tillie’s joined hands before coming back to my face. He gives me a nod and tight smile, and something lifts off my shoulders. I nod at him.
“Dangles was fine. He was even somehow pleasing his women.”
“How?” Tillie asks. “I mean you said you popped umm… you know…”
“He still had one, girly,” Homer says.” It hung down awful low—”
“Hence the name Dangles,” Henry adds.
“Yeah, but he got all the women he could want and from the sounds of it at night, there was not one of them complaining.”
“That’s sure the truth,” Henry agrees with his brother. “Besides, we didn’t have the heart to finish the job. If a man will defend his remaining ball by biting off a finger, he deserves to keep it.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “Buttons, after we’ve had all the kids you want, you’re getting your tubes tied or I’m never coming home so I don’t have to worry about being close to Homer and Henry.”
Tillie’s hand jerks in mine, her eyes go round as she looks at me. She studies me and I smile. She swallows nervously. “Two kids,” she whispers. “A boy and a girl in that order. A girl should always have a big brother to look out for her.”
My heart flips in my chest. Fuck, yes. “Us Monroe men have a long history of just having boys,” Dakota speaks up. “What if you guys have two boys instead?”
“Then we’ll keep trying until we have a girl, too.” I reply. “And on that note, I’m going to get Tillie out of here.” I stand up and put money on the table. “Keep the change, Brenda.”
“Thank ya’, Ryder.”
I nod at her and reach out my hand to my woman. She stares at it for a second before bringing her gaze back to me. She gives me another smile—this one nervous, but still there. Then, she puts her hand in mine. I give Tucker a tight smile and he returns it and we walk out.
Together.
Tillie
Maybe I’m a fool. I don’t really know. What I do know is that Ryder put his career on hold, demanding another week off and he did it… for me. He’s been by my side that entire week. We’ve talked about the future, about having kids, and most of all about building our lives together. I’m not stupid. You can’t plot your whole life in a couple of weeks. That’d be insane. Still, all signs are pointing toward the fact that Ryder wants his future to be with me and honestly, I’ve always wanted Ryder. After all this time, I don’t see that changing. So, this is where we’re at, Ryder spending his time showing me he cares and me, trying to fight through my own insecurities to be present with him and help navigate toward that future.